COMMERCIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2472, 19 February 1881, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

S. C. Times Office. Saturday Evening,

Grain is beginning to pour into the market, but as yet only in moderate quantities. It is anticipated that a fortnight must yet elapse before the full flow of the harvest is experienced. Hitherto the oat crop has been the first to make an impression, but, contrary to .this rule, wheat has this year led the way. The grain coming forward is in quality unexampled, bright, plump, yellow, well harvested, and in every respect faultless. The samples we have seen would be worthy a prize at any agricultural show, and we arc told that "the quality is almost uniformly good. As regards the market there is a steady demand, but current rates are not likely to rule high. The majority of farmers, it is alleged are under the thumb of the merchants, and the Co-operar live movement is laughed to scorn. That it will make an impression if properly managed is beyond doubt, but it must be prepared to contend with powerful adverse agencies. Those who could help it—farmers of the wealthy, independent order —are so mixed up with banking, shipping, and mercantile interests that they can only be regarded as its most formidable opponents. If the farmers wish to do well for themselves they must rally round the standard they have raised, and cling tenaciously to this Association, prepared to swim or sink with it. Uuless this determination is shewn the movement will prove resultless. If, on the other hand, well managed and properly supported, it can hardly fail to be a most important benefactor to every shareholding farmer in flie district. Wheat is worth from 3s to 3s 2d per bushel, and oats from Is Id to Is 3d. Barley is nominal. The principal purchases as yet have been made for milling purposes, CHRISTCHURCH MARKETS. Messrs Robert Wilkin and Co report : At the Addington Yards, on Wednesday, there was a fair attendance of buyers, and although there was a fair attendance of fat sheep, last week’s prices were maintained throughout. We sold, on account of various clients, prime cross-bred wethers at 12s 3d, good do at from 10s to 10s Ocl, fat lambs at 8s 3d, do for grazing purposes at Gs, fat bullocks from £7 10s to £B, heifers and cows from £5 to £G ss, pigs, best lots, at 41s, small do at 22s Gel and 255. At the Tinwald sale, on Tuesday, there was only a small entry for the fortnight’s supply, of which we sold fat cross-b:ed ewes to 9-, merino wethers at 7s and 7s 2d, full-mouthed store merino ewes at 4s (id, On Thursday we held our weekly sale of sheepskins, &c., at which there was a good attendance of buyers and keen competition. All lots catalogued were disposed of at an advance on rates at previous sales. The following are some of the prices obtained : —Crossbred, large and heavy woolled skins, 4s 6d, us 2d, 5s Gd; do medium, Is lid, 2s lid, 4s Gd. Merino, large and heavy woolled, -Is 3d, os, os Gd ; do medium, 2s od, 4s, 4s 3d. Lambskins, large, 2s od to 2s 10d; do medium. Is lOd to 2s od ; do small, Is 8d to Is lOd. Butchers’ pelts, half to threefourths woolled, Is 8d to 2s lid.; do late shorn, 8d to Is Bd. Country pelts, half to three-fourths woolled, 8d to Is lOd; do late shorn, Id to Bd. Wool—We beg to remind our clients that our fourth wool sale of the season will take place on Tuesday next, the 22nd Inst. DUNEDIN MARKETS. Mr Donald Stronach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company Limitel) reports for the week ending February IG, as follows ; Fat Cattle. —The requirements of the trade were fully supplied with 20G head at Burnside to-day, and no improvement on last week’s rates was apparent. Bullocks realised from £0 to £lO 5s ; and cows from' £5 10s to £7 10s per head. Wo disposed of drafis, on accounts of Messrs Wilson Bros. (Akatore) and others, at £7 2s Gd to £8 7 S !)d for bullocks, and £fi 7s (id for cows' We quote prime beef at 20s per lOOlbs. Fat Calves. —Six were sold at 20s to 23s per head. Grain—Wheat : As stated in our last week’s report, no business of any importance is passing, pending arrival in the market of the new crop. Quotations nominal- Oats : A few parcels have changed bands for shipment at late prices' at which there is ample oifering to meet all current demands. For local consumption nothing is doing. We quote milling (nominal), Is 7d ; feed, Is 4d to Is Gd. Barley : We have disposed of a parcel for shipment, but business- is almost at a standstill, and quotations would be useless. DUNEDIN SHARE MARKET, Mr J. B, Bradshaw reports:—Bank of Zealand shares, £22 15; Colonial Band, 445; New Zealand’lnsurance, 70s; South British Insurance, 60s; Union Insurance, 10s 9d ; Colonial Insurance, lls; National Insurance, 295; New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency, 105 s; National Mortgage and Agency, 28s, cum di c ; Mosgiel Woollen Factory, 72s Gd ; New Zealand Shipping Company, 90s, ex div. London, Feb 15. The market rate of discount has been reduced to 3 per cent. The Bank rate remains at 3£ per cent. Best Australian leather is quoted at 114 d The opening catalogue at the wool sale to-day comprised 2100 bales. The demand was fair, but prices were, as compared with closing rates of last sales, fully one half-penny lower for greasy and one penny lower for scoured wools. The total arrivals amount 310,000 hales, and the probable quantity to be offered is 300,000 Feb 16. Adelaide wheat, ex warehouse, 49s sd. At the wool sales to-day, 10,300 bales were offered. There was a good demand and a good attendance of Home buyers. Feb 17. The Bank of England rate of discount nas to-day been reduced to 3 per cent. The market rate now stands at 2| per cent. At the wool sale to-day 8,300 bales were offered. The tone of the sale was quiet, and prices suffered a further decline.